Linear compressor

Abstract

A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor may include a shell having a refrigerant inlet, a cylinder provided within the shell, a piston that reciprocates within the cylinder to compress a refrigerant, a motor assembly that provides a drive force to the piston, a support provided for the magnet assembly, to support an end of a permanent magnet, and a frame engaged with the cylinder to support the motor assembly, and that includes a contact to absorb impact when the piston collides against the support.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A linear compressor, comprising:
 a shell having a refrigerant inlet; 
 a cylinder provided within the shell; 
 a piston that reciprocates within the cylinder to compress a refrigerant; 
 a motor assembly that provides a drive force to the piston; 
 a spring support that supports the piston; 
 a motor cover at an intake end of the cylinder that supports a first side of the motor assembly; 
 a spring provided between the spring support and the motor cover; 
 a magnet assembly that delivers the drive force exerted by the motor assembly to the piston and that includes a permanent magnet and a support that supports a first end of the permanent magnet; and 
 a frame engaged with the cylinder at a discharge end of the cylinder to support a second side of the motor assembly, wherein a drive assembly includes the piston, the spring support, and the magnet assembly, wherein the magnet assembly is configured to have a relatively greater mass than the piston or the spring support, wherein the permanent magnet is formed of ferrite material, wherein the piston is formed of an aluminum material, and wherein the frame includes a contact that collides directly with the support of the magnet assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The linear compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the piston is at a first position during a reciprocating motion thereof, the support of the magnet assembly is arranged at a first distance away from the contact. 
     
     
       3. The linear compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein the first position is a bottom dead center (BDC) position of the piston, and at the BUG position of the piston, the refrigerant is drawn in though the inlet to be introduced into the cylinder. 
     
     
       4. The linear compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein, when the piston is at a second position during the reciprocating motion thereof; the support contacts or collides with the contact. 
     
     
       5. The linear compressor according to  claim 4 , wherein the second position is a top dead center (TDC) position of the piston, and at the TDC position of the piston, the refrigerant compressed within the cylinder is discharged our of the cylinder. 
     
     
       6. The linear compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein the magnet assembly further includes:
 a cylindrical magnet frame; and 
 a fixing plate fixed to a side of the magnet frame, and engaged with a second end of the permanent magnet. 
 
     
     
       7. The linear compressor according to  claim 4 , further including a flange that extends externally in a radial direction of the piston, wherein the flange approaches an end of the cylinder or moves away from the end of the cylinder, during the reciprocating motion of the piston. 
     
     
       8. The linear compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein, when the piston is at the first position, the flange is at a second distance away from the end of the cylinder, and wherein the first distance is less than the second distance. 
     
     
       9. The linear compressor according to  claim 8 , wherein, when the piston is at the second position, the flange is at a third distance away from the end of the cylinder, and wherein the third distance is less than the second distance. 
     
     
       10. The linear compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein, when the piston is at the first position, at least a portion of the support of the piston and the motor cover are at a second distance from each other in a radial direction. 
     
     
       11. The linear compressor according to  claim 10 , wherein, when the piston is at the second position, at least a portion of the support of the piston and the motor cover are at a third distance from each other in the radial direction, and wherein the third distance is equal to, or less than the second distance. 
     
     
       12. The linear compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact is formed at a location where an imaginary line that extends from the permanent magnet meets the frame.